"I'm pleased that the members of the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation Board took the prudent step of delaying the vote until next spring. I disagree with those who say Santa Clarita should bear the entire burden of chloride removal, and Tuesday's decision to delay gives our community considerable time to continue making our argument.

"It was evident from their comments that many members of our community, as well as the board members, agree with my position that the state needs to address the problem of chloride that enters the water before it ever reaches Santa Clarita. Requiring all upstream users to monitor their chloride levels is the most sensible solution, and should be pursued before we even consider increasing rates.

"Water quality is a critical issue in our area, and I'm committed to working with my colleagues from throughout California to craft a fair solution to this problem."